Dr Khadeejah Kamaldeen of the Kwara State Epidemiology Unit said the state government needed more support from partners in terms of vaccination logistics for yellow fever to allow for wider coverage of the state.

Yellow fever is prevented by an extremely effective vaccine, which is safe and affordable. A single dose of yellow fever vaccine is sufficient to confer sustained immunity and life-long protection against yellow fever disease and a booster dose of the vaccine is not needed. The vaccine provides effective immunity within 30 days for 99% of persons vaccinated.

Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The “yellow” in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients. Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.

In Kebbi state, government officials are reporting 656 suspected cases (77 confirmed) of measles in 21 local government areas of the state, according to a Guardian report. The Executive Secretary, State Primary Health Care and Development Agency, Dr Mannir Jega, who described the figure as alarming, said it was largely due to refusal of residents to go for routine immunization.

The Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Usman Kambaza said the state is planning measles campaign with the support of the National Primary Health Care and Development Agency and other partners on Tuesday where nearly 900,000 children are expected to be vaccinated.